Trapezoidal stabilizers for inner spring units

ABSTRACT

Wire elements of generally trapezoidal shape having a variety of spring members in the non-parallel arms of the trapezoids are disclosed. The spring members are incorporated between the upper and lower edges of inner spring box springs, mattresses and the like to provide a wide variety of support to the edges. The spring members, upon the application of pressure flex inwardly or axially, permitting close spacing of individual trapezoidal elements.

United States Patent Kline et al.

1 1 July4, 1972 [54] TRAPEZOIDAL STABILIZERS FOR INNER SPRING UNITS [72] Inventors: John C. Kline, Merrick; Albert F. Kronman, Locust Valley, both of NY.

[73] Assignee: Eclipse Sleep Products, Inc., Brooklyn,

[22] Filed: Jan. 7, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 1,228

52 US. Cl ..5/260, 5/255 [51] Int. Cl ..A47c 23/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..5/260, 261,247,255

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,093,840 6/1963 Martin ..5/260 3,206,759 9/1965 Kline ..5/260 3,391,412 7/1968 Bronstien et al ..5/260 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,095,330 12/1967 Great Britain ..s/26o 870,197 6/1961 Great Britain ..5/261 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Darrell Marquette Attorney-Albert F. Kronman [5 7] ABSTRACT Wire elements of generally trapezoidal shape having a variety of spring members in the non-parallel arms of the trapezoids are disclosed. The spring members are incorporated between the upper and lower edges of inner spring box springs, mattresses and the like to provide a wide variety of support to the edges. The spring members, upon the application of pressure flex inwardly or axially, permitting close spacing of individual trapezoidal elements.

5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJuL '4 1972 3, 673 ,6 1 9 saw 10F 2 FIG. 4

TRAPEZOIDAL STABILIZERS FOR INNER SPRING UNITS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Box springs, inner spring mattresses, cushions and the like, have been made with edge stabilizing members for many years. The stabilizers generally consist of wire supports which are secured to the upper and lower edges of the box springs, mattresses, etc., for the purpose of stiffening the edges of these articles to resist the application of pressure during use. By means of these stabilizers, persons sitting on the edge of a mattress or box spring are not as likely to break the outer most row of springs and thereby deform the square comer of the mattress or bed spring. In addition, persons sleeping on a mattress having edge supports are supported right up to the edge of the mattress in a manner not possible by the use of the normal number of coil springs available adjacent the edges thereof.

However, prior devices have been in the form of hexagonal, diamond, S," or other shapes which deflect in a manner making it necessary to substantially space the elements from each other and thereby reduce the amount of support available along the edges of the mattresses and box springs.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide edge supports or stabilizers for inner spring units which can be closely spaced around the periphery of a box spring or inner spring mattress. Various types of spring arrangements are provided within the units so that a wide variety of spring rates can be selected depending upon the specific use of the cushioning device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Stabilizers for inner spring units made in accordance with the present invention consist of generally trapezoidal shaped wire elements which can be secured vertically across the upper and lower edges of inner spring box springs, mattresses, cushions and the like. Theterm trapezoidal as used herein is intended to mean a quadrilateral shape having two parallel sides of unequal length interconnected at their ends by two convergent sides as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. The trapezoidal elements are provided with spring members in the nonparallel arms thereof to yieldably resist pressure imposed upon the edges of the box springs, mattresses or cushions. Numerous spring structures are disclosed for the purpose of providing a wide variety of spring action suitable for specific types of inner springs, box springs, mattresses, cushions and the like.

In, the accompanying drawings, forming part'hereof corresponding elements have been given identical reference numerals, in which drawings:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a somewhat isometric view of an inner spring mattress partly broken away to show the location of springs and trapezoidal edge stabilizers according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view somewhat enlarged of the edge of an inner spring mattress illustrating one form of trapezoidal stabilizer made in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing another form of trapezoidal stabilizer.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 showing a further embodiment of the present invention.-

FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and are all views of border stabilizers made in accordance e with the present invention and comprising additional embodiments thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to F IG. 1 it will be seen that the inner spring mattress consists of a series of upstanding coiled spring members 21 which are secured vertically and horizontally together to form a supporting unit. The support wires are indicated at 22 and are well known in the art. An upper and lower wire frame 23, 24, is carried around the periphery of the springs 21 to form the edge of the inner spring member. In order to stiffen the inner spring member at its periphery, wire border stabilizers 25 are attached between the upper and lower wires 23, 24, as by the helical springs 26 shown in FIG. 2.

The border stabilizers, according to the present invention are generally trapezoidal in shape and are disposed in side by side, but alternating relationship with respect to each other along the edge of the inner spring unit as illustrated in FIGS. 2-10. The parallel portions of the stabilizers 27, 28, are attached to the upper and lower edge wires 23, 24. As pressure is applied to the top of the inner spring member 20, the border stabilizers are compressed. In addition, upon the removal of pressure, the border stabilizers must return to their original condition to maintain the usefulness and appearance of the inner spring member.

By using a substantially trapezoidal shape for the border stabilizer, the stabilizers .can besecured in place in relatively close relationship to one another as shown in the drawings. On the other hand, as the stabilizers are compressed during use, the non-parallel sides of the stabilizers must flex. If the nonparallel sides bow outwardly-in the direction of adjacent stabilizers, the inner spring unit will be noisy and ticking or other covering material may be pinched between adjacent stabilizers. Accordingly, stabilizers disclosed herein are formed so that the non-parallel sides will flex inwardly or axially upon compression, as shown in dashed lines in FIGS. 2 and 6.

Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown one form of stabilizer suitable for the present invention in which the non-parallel sides 29, 30, of the trapezoidal stabilizer are formed with inwardly disposed loops 31 to form a spring structure between the parallel sides of the trapezoids. When the stabilizers are compressed the loops 31 will move toward each other without interfering with adjacent stabilizers in the periphery of the inner spring member.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 provides a trapezoidal stabilizer having a somewhat different spring rate than that shown in FIG. 2, which is provided by an outwardly disposed loop 32 at each end of the shorter side of the trapezoid and an inwardly disposed loop 33 spaced from each end of the longer parallel side of the trapezoid. Here again, upon the application of pressure to the stabilizer, the loops 33 will move toward each other causing the non-parallel sides of the trapazoid to move inwardly and away from adjacent border stabilizers.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the non-parallel sides 29, 30, of the stabilizers are bent to form closed loops 34, 35, adjacent the parallel sides of the trapezoidal member. The closed loops 34, 35, are wound in opposite directions so that pressure applied to the edge of the inner spring memberwill not cause the trapezoidal stabilizers to bow outwardly. Nor will the stabilizers bow in the direction of adjacent stabilizers, but rather will flex inwardly to resist the pressure upon the edge of the inner spring member.

In FIG. 5, the loops 31 shown in FIG. 2 have been elongated as indicated at 36 and the non-parallel sides of the trapezoidal structure doubled back upon themselves to provide an almost axial flexing of the stabilizer under pressure. Here again, it will be observed that the stabilizers can be mounted close to one another without interfering with their operation.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 substitutes helical springs 37 in the non-parallel arms of the trapezoidal stabilizers for the loops of the prior embodiments. Under the influence of pressure on the edge of the inner spring member, the coil springs will compress axially and return to their original condition when the pressure is released.

The embodiment of FIG. 7 employs wave springs 38 in the non-parallel arms of the trapezoidal stabilizer and has the advantage of providing a very flat profile for the stabilizer which is particularly useful in those structures where the ticking is close adjacent to the box spring member along the side walls thereof. It will be observed that upon compression the wave springs 38 will move axially and not occupy any more space in the structure than when they are free of load.

Referring to FIG. 8 it will be seen that the wire 39 of which the trapezoidal stabilizers are formed has been flattened at 40 in each of the non-parallel arms and inwardly coiled to form spring elements 41. The spring elements 41 absorb any pressure applied to the edge of the spring member by moving toward each other and away from adjacent stabilizing elements.

In FIG. 9 there is shown a somewhat trapezoidal shaped stabilizer in which the wave spring members 42 are criss-crossed between the parallel sides of the trapezoidal stabilizer. The criss-crossing action restricts the outward motion of the stabilizer either in the direction of adjacent stabilizing members or in a direction normal to the plane of the inner spring mattress edge.

The embodiment shown in FIG. is a simplification of that shown in FIG. 9 in that the non-parallel sides of the stabilizer are inwardly bowed and criss-crossed to form spring members between the parallel sides of the stabilizer. As the stabilizer is compressed in this embodiment, the criss-crossed sides will move in opposite directions toward the outer periphery of the stabilizer. However, the length of the loops 43 is such that they cannot interfere with adjacent stabilizing members. When pressure is removed from this stabilizer, the upward motion of the stabilizer is restrained by means of the criss-cross construction indicated at 44.

The various stabilizers described above, are capable of providing a variety of degreesof support and are therefore applicable to many types of cushions, mattresses, box springs, etc., depending upon the firmness which is desired for each particular article. In addition, they. all have the ability to be placed in close relationship with adjacent stabilizers to give substantially uninterrupted support around the complete periphery of an inner spring member. Because the stabilizers consist of discreet units, they can be shipped and assembled with ease and can be formed on relatively simple machines.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A stabilizer for inner spring units comprising a wire body portion of generally trapezoidal shape having opposed parallel. sides of unequal length and convergent non-parallel sides interconnecting the ends of said parallel sides and at least one inwardly yielding spring structure incorporated within each of the non-parallel sides between the ends of said sides and integral therewith, whereby adjacent stabilizers can be alternately reversed and placed in close side by side relationship.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which the spring structure comprises inwardly disposed open loops.

3. A device according to claim 1 in which the spring structure comprises at least two inwardly disposed open loops on each non-parallel side.

4. A device according to claim 1 in which the spring struc- V ture comprises closed loops wound in opposite directions.

5. A device according to claim 2 in which the loops are elongated in the direction of one of the parallel sides. 

1. A stabilizer for inner spring units comprising a wire body portion of generally trapezoidal shape having opposed parallel sides of unequal length and convergent non-parallel sides interconnecting the ends of said parallel sides and at least one inwardly yielding spring structure incorporated within each of the non-parallel sides between the ends of said sides and integral therewith, whereby adjacent stabilizers can be alternately reversed and placed in close side by side relationship.
 2. A device according to claim 1 in which the spring structure comprises inwardly disposed open loops.
 3. A device according to claim 1 in which the spring structure comprises at least two inwardly disposed open loops on each non-parallel side.
 4. A dEvice according to claim 1 in which the spring structure comprises closed loops wound in opposite directions.
 5. A device according to claim 2 in which the loops are elongated in the direction of one of the parallel sides. 